Deputy National Security Advisor Benjamin Rhodes
Statement by National Security Council Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan
Today,
Deputy National Security Advisor Benjamin Rhodes welcomed to the White
House senior officials from all ten member states of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) for a warm and productive discussion on the U.S.-ASEAN
relationship. Mr. Rhodes underscored President Obama’s strong personal
commitment to the U.S.-ASEAN relationship and to his strategy of
rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific region, and noted that the
President looks forward to attending the U.S.-ASEAN Summit and the East
Asia Summit later this year in Malaysia.
Mr. Rhodes discussed the
broad agenda for cooperation between the United States and ASEAN on many
political, security, economic, and people-to-people
issues. In particular, Mr. Rhodes discussed maritime security and
ongoing concerns regarding China’s extensive land reclamation in the
South China Sea, and he expressed continued U.S. support for ASEAN’s
efforts to conclude a Code of Conduct with China, and
for a resolution of differences consistent with international law.
Noting that Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia already host substantial
migrant communities, Mr. Rhodes expressed our concerns over the tragic
circumstances faced by Rohingya and other migrants
at sea, and urged ASEAN countries to work expeditiously to save lives
while also pursuing the broader efforts that are necessary to improve
conditions in Rakhine state and address underlying challenges that
contribute to the migration.
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